Method of enclosing a package of flexible material and package produced thereby

ABSTRACT

A package of flexible material of the universal type having a radial opening into the axial opening through which the inner end of the material is led out is wound on a collapsible mandrel. After the collapsible mandrel has been slightly collapsed, end members are positioned on the mandrel and are pushed towards each other to compact the package. The end members are of slightly greater diameter than the package. A tube of shrink-wrap material is then applied over the package extending slightly beyond the end members. Heat is applied by a gun to the end portions of the sleeve to produce a slight shrinking around the edges of the end members and then to the remainder of the sleeve to shrink the tube on the package. Rings are then applied at each end, against the end members, these rings having an outer diameter slightly less than the end members and having a central opening of substantially less diameter than the diameter of the holes in the end members. Heat is then applied to the ends of the package to shrink the shrink-wrap material inwardly over the end members and rings.

United States Patent [1 1 Newman et al.

[ 5] July 24, 1973 METHOD OF ENCLOSING A PACKAGE OF FLEXIBLE MATERIALAND PACKAGE PRODUCED THEREBY [75] Inventors: James W. Newman, Scarsdale;

Ronald E. Zajac, Yonkers; Nicholas M. Bavaro, Mount Vernon, all of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Windiugs, Inc., Yonkers, N.Y.

[22] Filed: May 24, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 146,209

[52] US. Cl. 206/52 W, 206/46 Y, 206/59 B, 206/65 S, 229/DIG. 12,242/163, 53/13 [51] Int. Cl. B65d 85/04, B65d 85/675, B65d 85/16 [58]Field of Search 206/52 W, 52 R, 46 Y, 206/46 Z, 59 B, 64, 83.5, 65 Y, 65S;

229/DIG. 12; 53/13-30; 242/163 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr.Attorney-Jennings Bailey, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A package of flexible material of the universal typehaving a radial opening into the axial opening through which the innerend of the material is led out is wound on a collapsible mandrel. Afterthe collapsible mandrel has been slightly collapsed, end. members arepositioned on the mandrel and are pushed towards each other to compactthe package. The end members are of slightly greater diameter than thepackage. A tube of shrink-wrap material is then applied over the packageextending slightly beyond the end members. Heat is applied by a gun tothe end portions of the sleeve to produce a slight shrinking around theedges of the end members and then to the remainder of the sleeve toshrink the tube on the package. Rings are then applied at each end,against the end members, these rings having an outer diameter slightlyless than the end members and having a central opening of substantiallyless diameter than the diameter of the holes in the end members. Heat isthen applied to the ends of the package to shrink the shrink-wrapmaterial inwardly over the end members and rings.

14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, 1973 3,747,746

2 Sheet s l Patented July 24, 1973 2 Sheets-She et 2 /m NW m m 421-1 3 A'I'TOR MPJY PRIOR APPLICATIONS The subject matter of FIGS. 1 to 5 of thepresent application is embodied in applicants disclosure W-3, Ser. No.003,448, filed Nov. 10, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The inventionrelates to packages of flexible material in the nature of a universalwind having a radial opening into the axial opening through which theinner end of the material is led out for twistless payout and a methodof enclosing such packages. More particularly it relates to theenclosure of such a coil in order to make it more suitable for shippingand handling and to prevent birdsnesting in the payout.

2. The Prior Art Packages of flexible material having a radial openinginto the axial opening through which the inner end of the material isled out are known for example in Taylor US. Pat. No. 2,767,938. It isknown to enclose such packages in various ways for the purpose ofpreventing damage to them in handling and shipping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a packageof flexible material of the universal type having a radial then appliedover the package extending slightly beyond the end members. Heat isapplied by a gun to the end portions of the sleeve to produce a slightshrinking around the edges of the end members and then to the remainderof the sleeve to shrink the tube on the package.- Rings are applied ateach end, against the end members, these rings havingan outer diameterslightly less than the end members and having a central opening ofsubstantially less diameter than the diameter of the holes in the endmembers. Heat is then applied to the ends of the package to shrink theshrink-wrap material inwardly over the end members and rings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I shows in cross-section the procedure for producing a packageaccording to the invention ready for wrapping;

FIG. 2 is an end view of one of the compression members of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a package according to the invention enclosed in ashrink-wrap tube before the application of heat;

FIG. 4 shows the package after the application of heat;

FIG. 5 shows the central portion of'a modified form of package; and

FIG. 6 shows in longitudinal cross-section a portion of a furthermodified form of package.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4,a package 2 of flexible material of universal type having a built-inradial hole 3 opening into the central axial opening is formed on aslightly collapsible mandrel 4. After the wind is com pleted, themandrel carrying the wind is removed from the winding machine. Themandrel is then collapsed slightly, for example by an amount of 5 10percent of the diameter of the axial opening.

Thereafter, end pieces 6 are applied at each end of the winding, theseend pieces being of inexpensive material such as plastic, and collars 8with set screws 10 are applied outside the end pieces. The end pieceshave a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the finished windwhile the collars have a diameter considerably less than the diameter ofthe end pieces. The set screws are however left loose temporarily.

Spring clamps of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are then applied on theoutsides of the collars in expanded condition, and are allowed then toapproach each other. These clamps consist of end members 12 with rods 14secured at one end of the end pieces and passing slidably through one ofthe end pieces with coil springs 16 on the outside of and between one ofthe end pieces and heads on the end of the rods. This arrangement whenapplied to the collars will compress the package simultaneously andsubstantially equally from both ends. This compression will compact thewind to some extent, reducing its axial dimension and at the same timemaking it more stable for handling and shipping.

A tube l8of shrink-wrap material (see FIG. 3) somewhat longer than thepackage, for example one-half inch, and of an inner diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of the end pieces 12 is then slippedover the package, extending beyond the end pieces equally at both endsof the wind. The material is now rotated in front of a source of heatsuch as a heat gun with a restricted nozzle, applied first at each endof the package. This shrinks the end portions of the tube upon the endpieces, with the protruding portion-s folding themselves around theoutside of the end pieces as shown in FIG. 4.

Thereafter, the remainder of the tube wall is submitted to heat.

I'n packages of the universal wound type having a radialopening formedin them, there is a certain unevenness in the wall of the package, whichis slightly thicker at the lineswhere the cross-overs 20 of thefigure-eight coilsoccur. Thisresults in the formation of one or moreribs around the package such as is indicated in FIG. 3. In heating thepackage, it is preferable to heat the areas of the cross-overs somewhatless than the other area, so

that the shrink-wrap material does not exert as much pressure on theseridges. This heat differential is represented by the varying length ofthe arrows in FIG. 3.

' The result is that the ridges are not compressed so as tions outwardlyand to prevent or limit endwise inward collapse of the coil duringhandling and shipping.

A similar result (FIG. 5) can be obtained by first shrinking the wrapsubstantially equally, other than at the cross-over lines; andthereafter applying an additional strip 22 of shrink-wrap materialaround the central zone of the coil, securing its end firmly and heatingit to create further pressure in this zone.

It may also improve the winds if a ring of fairly stiff material such ascardboard is positioned beneath the ring 22 (FIG. 5) and slightlynarrower than the plastic ring.

It has been found that in packages of the type heretofore describedthere is a tendency for the end portions of the innermost layers toescape around the inner edges of the rings 12. To prevent this, as shownin FIG. 6, it is desirable in the first stages of shrinking to shrinkthe tube opposite the end forms only slightly, then to apply to the endsof the package retaining rings 22 having an outer diameter only slightlyless than rings 12 but a substantially smaller central opening, largeenough however to receive guide cones as referred to hereinafter. Theend shrinkage is then completed, the shrinkwrap material then holdingthe retaining rings firmly at the ends of the package with the edges ofthe openings therein at a substantial distance radially inward from theinner wall of the package.

If no cones are to be used, the retaining rings may be replaced by soliddiscs.

Taylor US. Pat. No. 2,317,830 shows the formation of a wind usingseparated end forms. The present invention also contemplates theapplication of a shrinkwrap to a package of the type shown in thatpackage, utilizing the separated end forms as end pieces to form part ofthe finished package after application to it of the shrink-wrap materialin the manner described herein.

The use of a secured layer of shrink-wrap as described can perform thefunction of holding a flanged feedout tube in place, and providing ahole that will be properly sized for the material which is led outthrough it. A quick pass of heat on this area will serve to smooth thesurface edges of the hole so that harmful friction areas are not set up.The hole may be so small as to prevent entry of any substantial amountof dirt or humidity into the package.

By immersing the package before wrapping in a suitable libricant, it ispossible to produce the effect of relaxing the tensioning of the windand swelling the small humps caused by the cross-over points of the wind(numbering three in a two-wind).

The application of heat is accompanied by a rotation of the wind. Byconforming to the cross-over bump protrusions, the shrink tube reducesthe tendency of the cross-over bumps to protrude into the inside aircore, after removal of the wind, which tendency would be emphasized orassisted by pressure from an outside relatively stiff wrap-around.Application of extra heat on more of a pin-point basis to the areasbetween the bumps gives added emphasis to the protective tendency ofthis step.

By shrinking the shrink tube over the end rings, a tight package iscreated, holding all exterior surfaces of the wind and leaving the axialcavity free for payout cones. By allowing the ring forms to be slightlylarger in diameter than the wind (by approximately onesixteenth toone-eighth on the circumference) a commercial coffee can plastic lid canbe snapped on to effect a tight closure and hold cones such as aredescribed in the Newman application filed Feb. 8, l97l, for Package ofFlexible Material with Twistless Payout in place. Cones can also beformed to snap into the under side of the lid to make one piece of coneand lid.

By applying graduated heat to a revolving finished two-wind by means ofa method which conducts more or less heat to the surface of theshrinking material, the pressure exerted by the material can be made tobe greater in the central areas of the wind and the outer edges thusforcing the wind to spread against the end rings and at the same time tocontain the movement outward of the end rings. This can be accomplishedalso in an emphasized manner by applying the second layer of shrinkablematerial as a second step to the shrink-portion of the wind whichrequires the extra pressure, for instance, the portion between the twooutside cross-over bumps. The reason these tendencies are so is that thewind inherently contains a torque force that wants to make individualcoils spring toward either end and outside the axial hole. Byemphasizing this and utilizing pressure of the shrink force to increasethe pressure towards the ends and at the same time hold these forces inplace by the tightened ends, a tighter wind that resists axial collapseis created without the use of increased tension in the wind. Byrevolving the wind fairly rapidly while it is still on its windingmandrel the distribution of shrinkage is even and partial collapse ofthe air core that might be caused by unequal shrink-wrap pressure isavoided. The fact that the wind must necessarily be wound at lowertensions in order to protect the integrity of the air core and mustnecessarily have more looseness to form the hole is offset, as far asstability is concerned, by this means of applying a shrink-wrap materialand forming it into the basic container.

We claim:

1. Method of forming a package of flexible material of the universaltype having a radial opening into the central axial opening throughwhich the inner end of the material is led out which comprises winding apackage of such material on a collapsible mandrel, applying relativelyrigid end pieces at each end of the package slightly collapsing themandrel, pushing said end pieces against the ends of the package toproduce a decrease in the length thereof, applying a tube of shrink-wrapmaterial around the package having a length slightly greater than thelength of the package and shrinking such material upon the package andaround the ends thereof to a sufficient extent to engage over said endpieces and hold them in position against the walls of the package.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the end pieces are discshaving a diameter slightly greater than the package.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the shrinking includes thestep of heating the shrink-wrap material while applying greater heat tocentral portions of the package than to the ends thereof.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which said package has ridgesextending from the outer surface thereof at the cross-over points, whichincludes shrinking the shrink-wrap material to a greater degree betweensuch ridges than at the ridges.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the end pieces have centralopenings therein of the same diameter as the axial opening, whichcomprises shrinking the shrink-wrap material over the end pieces onlypartially, applying to the ends of the package retaining members whichextend inwardly to a substantially greater distance than the inner edgesof the openings in the end pieces, and thereafter shrinking the ends ofthe shrink-wrap over both the end pieces and the retaining members.

6. A package of flexible material of the universal type having a radialopening therethrough into the axial opening through which the inner endof the material is led out, having at each end of the package a ring ofrelatively rigid flat material and having a tube of shrinkwrap materialshrunk against the wall of the package and over the ends thereof toretain said rings in position, said package being longitudinallycompressed.

7. A package as claimed in claim 6, in which the rings have an outsidediameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the package.

8. A package as claimed in claim 6, having ridges running around thesame as the cross-over points of the flexible material, and having theshrink-wrap material shrunk less strongly over said ridges than over theremaining wall of the package.

9. A package as claimed in claim 6, in which the inner diameter of therings is equal to the diameter of the axial opening in the package, andretaining members of flat rigid material secured by the shrink-wrap oneach end wall of the package overlying said rings and extending inwardlytowards the center of the package substantially further than the insidewall of the axial opening of the package.

10. Method of forming a package of flexible material of the universaltype having a radial opening into the central axial opening throughwhich the inner end of the material is led out which comprises winding apackage of such material, applying relatively rigid end pieces at eachend of the package, applying a tube of shrink-wrap material around thepackage having a length slightly greater than the length of the packageand shrinking such material upon the package and around the ends thereofto a sufficient extent to engage over said end pieces and hold them inposition against the walls of the package while applying greater heat tocentral portions of the package than to the ends thereof.

ll. Method of forming a package of flexible material of the universaltype having a radial opening into the central axial opening throughwhich the inner end of the material is led out which comprises winding apackage of such material, applying relatively rigid end pieces at eachend of the pacakge, applying a tube of shrink-wrap material around thepackage having a length slightly greater than the length of the packageand shrinking such material upon the package and around the ends thereofto a sufficient extent to engage over said end pieces and hold them inposition against the walls of the package, said package having ridgesextending from the outer surface thereof at the cross-over points, andthe shrinking including shrinking the shrink-wrap material to a greaterdegree between such ridges than at the ridges.

12. Method of forming a package of flexible material of the universaltype having a radial opening into the central axial opening throughwhich the inner end of the material is led out which comprises winding apackage of such material, applying relatively rigid end pieces at eachend of the package, the end pieces having central openings therein ofthe same diameter as the axial opening, applying a tube of shrinkwrapmaterial around the package having a length slightly greater than thelength of the package, shrinking the shrinkwrap material over the endpieces only partially, applying to the ends of the package retainingmembers which extend inwardly to a substantially greater distance thanthe inner edges of the openings in the end pieces, and thereaftershrinking the ends of the shrink-wrap over both the end pieces and theretaining members.

13. A package of flexible material of the universal type having a radialopening therethrough into the axial opening through which the inner endof the material is led out, having at each end of the package a ring ofrelatively rigid flat material and having a tube of shrinkwrap materialshrunk against the wall of the package and over the ends thereof toretain said rings in position, said package having ridges running aroundthe same as the cross-over points of the flexible material, and havingthe shrink-wrap material shrunk less strongly over said ridges than overthe remaining wall of the package.

14. A package of flexible material of the universal type having a radialopening therethrough into the axial opening trough which the inner endof the material is led out, having at each end of the package a ring ofrelatively rigid flat material and having a tube of shrink wrap materialshrunk against the wall of the package and over the ends thereof toretain said rings in position, the inner diameter of the rings beingequal to the diameter of the axial opening in the package, and retainingmembers of flat rigid material secured by the shrink-wrap on each endwall of the package overlying said rings and extending inwardly towardsthe center of the package substantially further than the inside wall ofthe axial opening of the package.

1. Method of forming a package of flexible material of the universaltype having a radial opening into the central axial opening throughwhich the inner end of the material is led out which comprises winding apackage of such material on a collapsible mandrel, applying relativelyrigid end pieces at each end of the package slightly collapsing themandrel, pushing said end pieces against the ends of the package toproduce a decrease in the length thereof, applying a tube of shrink-wrapmaterial around the package having a length slightly greater than thelength of the package and shrinking such material upon the package andaround the ends thereof to a sufficient extent to engage over said endpieces and hold them in position against the walls of the package.
 2. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, in which the end pieces are discs having adiameter slightly greater than the package.
 3. A method as claimed inclaim 1, in which the shrinking includes the step of heating theshrink-wrap material while applying greater heat to central portions ofthe package than to the ends thereof.
 4. A process as claimed in claim1, in which said package has ridges extending from the outer surfacethereof at the cross-over points, which includes shrinking theshrink-wrap material to a greater degree between such ridges than at theridges.
 5. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the end pieces havecentral openings therein of the same diameter as the axial opening,which comprises shrinking the shrink-wrap material over the end piecesonly partially, applying to the ends of the package retaining memberswhich extend inwardly to a substantially greater distance than the inneredges of the openings in the end pieces, and thereafter shrinking theends of the shrink-wrap over both the end pieces and the retainingmembers.
 6. A package of flexible material of the universal type havinga radial opening therethrough into the axial opening through which theinner end of the material is led out, having at each end of the packagea ring of relatively rigid flat material and having a tube ofshrink-wrap material shrunk against the wall of the package and over theends thereof to retain said rings in position, said package beinglongitudinally compressed.
 7. A package as claimed in claim 6, in whichthe rings have an outside diameter slightly greater than the outsidediameter of the package.
 8. A package as claimed in claim 6, havingridges running around the same as the cross-over points of the flexiblematerial, And having the shrink-wrap material shrunk less strongly oversaid ridges than over the remaining wall of the package.
 9. A package asclaimed in claim 6, in which the inner diameter of the rings is equal tothe diameter of the axial opening in the package, and retaining membersof flat rigid material secured by the shrink-wrap on each end wall ofthe package overlying said rings and extending inwardly towards thecenter of the package substantially further than the inside wall of theaxial opening of the package.
 10. Method of forming a package offlexible material of the universal type having a radial opening into thecentral axial opening through which the inner end of the material is ledout which comprises winding a package of such material, applyingrelatively rigid end pieces at each end of the package, applying a tubeof shrink-wrap material around the package having a length slightlygreater than the length of the package and shrinking such material uponthe package and around the ends thereof to a sufficient extent to engageover said end pieces and hold them in position against the walls of thepackage while applying greater heat to central portions of the packagethan to the ends thereof.
 11. Method of forming a package of flexiblematerial of the universal type having a radial opening into the centralaxial opening through which the inner end of the material is led outwhich comprises winding a package of such material, applying relativelyrigid end pieces at each end of the pacakge, applying a tube ofshrink-wrap material around the package having a length slightly greaterthan the length of the package and shrinking such material upon thepackage and around the ends thereof to a sufficient extent to engageover said end pieces and hold them in position against the walls of thepackage, said package having ridges extending from the outer surfacethereof at the cross-over points, and the shrinking including shrinkingthe shrink-wrap material to a greater degree between such ridges than atthe ridges.
 12. Method of forming a package of flexible material of theuniversal type having a radial opening into the central axial openingthrough which the inner end of the material is led out which compriseswinding a package of such material, applying relatively rigid end piecesat each end of the package, the end pieces having central openingstherein of the same diameter as the axial opening, applying a tube ofshrink-wrap material around the package having a length slightly greaterthan the length of the package, shrinking the shrink-wrap material overthe end pieces only partially, applying to the ends of the packageretaining members which extend inwardly to a substantially greaterdistance than the inner edges of the openings in the end pieces, andthereafter shrinking the ends of the shrink-wrap over both the endpieces and the retaining members.
 13. A package of flexible material ofthe universal type having a radial opening therethrough into the axialopening through which the inner end of the material is led out, havingat each end of the package a ring of relatively rigid flat material andhaving a tube of shrink-wrap material shrunk against the wall of thepackage and over the ends thereof to retain said rings in position, saidpackage having ridges running around the same as the cross-over pointsof the flexible material, and having the shrink-wrap material shrunkless strongly over said ridges than over the remaining wall of thepackage.
 14. A package of flexible material of the universal type havinga radial opening therethrough into the axial opening trough which theinner end of the material is led out, having at each end of the packagea ring of relatively rigid flat material and having a tube ofshrink-wrap material shrunk against the wall of the package and over theends thereof to retain said rings in position, the inner diameter of therings being equal to the diameter of the axial opening in the package,and retaining members of flat rigiD material secured by the shrink-wrapon each end wall of the package overlying said rings and extendinginwardly towards the center of the package substantially further thanthe inside wall of the axial opening of the package.